All nonprofits can benefit by adding a Paypal “Donate” button to their website, but few do.  Why?  It’s one of those maddeninly simple yet sublimely difficult tasks that are tedious to take on.  With that said, I’d like to show off a brand new PayPal “Donate” button that I just established this week on a nonprofit website.  It took me about two months, start to finish.  Don’t despair, you can do it too!  The time consuming part was asking different people for their part of the paperwork, and since the organization was in the process of changing bank accounts, we had to wait for that to conclude.

Check out my handiwork:  Blochman PTA.  Also, feel free to try out the process by making a donation to the Blochman PTA!  It might give the PTA president a heart attack to see hundreds of donations, wouldn’t that be grand???  (Oh, she’s a nice lady, we don’t want to actually give her a heart attack, maybe a fit of the giggles!)

Here’s what you’ll need to do, start to finish:

• Have a website!  If you don’t already have a website, please click on the upper right of this website on the GoDaddy icon.  They are absolutely FABULOUS to work with!  They have 24 hour phone support, and you can purchase your domain from them as well as hosting.  If you need help launching the software, just leave a comment on this post, I’m a volunteer webmaster to help non-profits get up and running.
• Have contact information!  You’ll need to tell PayPal who the spokesperson is.
• Have an email address and bank account!  You’ll need to provide this information, so start the ball rolling with these items!  The bank account will need to be in the name of your non-profit.
• Have a PayPal account!  Sign up here:  PayPal  Keep track of your userid and password for your organization.  You’ll only be able to open one for your organization.  PayPal is just like a bank account, so be smart with your security, keep the password safeguarded, and make on that is not easy to guess.
• Have the paperwork showing your official non-profit status!  (501(c)3 paperwork, etc.)
• Have access to a copy machine and fax!  Make a copy of your voided check. 
• Register through PayPal for the type of account you’d like, and how you’d like to receive donations. 
• Write up your business description, and fax the required paperwork to PayPal.  You’ll have the opportunity to sign up online for a fax cover sheet that you will use to submit your paperwork.
• Create a “Thanks” page on your website.  Once you’re approved you’ll be guided through the process to set up your “Donate” button.  You’ll be asked for the URL to direct to upon completion.  Want to see what I did for this?  (It’ll cost you a dollar!  Please …???)
• You’ll be given the opportunity to select the button you want to use.  Copy the code, and paste it onto a page or sidebar of your website.
• Test it!  Make a donation through your website!
• Ready to take your website to the next level?  Check out a mentoring website to learn how to make money online:  The Keyword Academy
• Did you have success, or are you stuck???  Leave a comment and let us know how it went for you!

Here’s what you need to do to make money for charity with paypal:

1. Gather together some documents first, this is the time consuming part.  You’ll need your email address, a cancelled check or bank statement for your charity organization, and the documents awarding your organization your tax free status.  (Your 501(c)3 paperwork.  Paypal will require that you submit this information, so before you can make money for Charity with Paypal take a few minutes to organize yourself.  If you have a registered 501(c)3 organization, it’s possible the fees charged by Paypal will be reduced from the normal amount.
2. Go to the Paypal site when you’re all ready.  You’re not required to have a cup of coffe nearby, however I have found this additional step to be helpful.  (Don’t worry, it’s really not that hard to make money for charity with Paypal!)  Here’s a link right to the Paypal site for you to get started:  Paypal  You can sign up for a business account for your organization also.  So you have some options here, you can get the “donate” button once you’ve opened an account, and you can also get a “merchant account” with Paypal, which means you’ll be able to accept credit cards for donations and payments.  If you’d like to take payments over the phone or by email, you can look into the “virtual terminal” option.  But don’t get confused here, if you only want the “donate button” you don’t need the “merchant account.”
3. Once you’ve opened your Paypal account, you’ll need to get the code for the button and either put it on your website yourself, or give the code to your webmaster. 

So how was that?  Instructions helpful or not?  Did we leave out a frustrating part you got stuck on?  Please post a comment if we need your opinion!  And thanks!

What to do first for website fundraising:

• What you’ll need to do for your website fundraising campaign to add a PayPal Donate button to your website: 
• Click on the PayPal for Business link below, and open an account.  You’ll be able to look into accepting credit cards as well as PayPal.  You can also set up recurring payments. 
• Are your donors looking to make a steady monthly donation by subscription?  (Wonderful!)  PayPal is a great solution

!

Please contact Paypal with your charity organization info. If you are a registered 501 (C) 3 Tax Exempt organization, your PayPal fees could be reduced. If you are conducting charitable fundraising with PayPal, your status must be first verified by PayPal. You’ll need to submit your URL, your contact information, and description of your business for starters. You’ll need to send an email to PayPal at this email address: Compliance @ PayPal . com to begin the process. Get ready to gather up some additional information to submit, such as your proof of tax exempt status or registration from a regulatory body, and a copy of a bank statement or voided check in the name of your organization.

In addition to helping non-profits and charitable organizations with website fundraising, PayPal is a great merchant account solution for new and small businesses. If you’ve been told by your bank that you need a “high risk merchant account” this means that you’ll need to look at several options for credit card processing. If you sell merchandise over the internet, or sell information, or are a new small business you may be experiencing rejection when you apply for a merchant account. If you’re in the high risk category for merchant services, please click the link above and give PayPal a try!

Know your product and price.  How do you determine a starting listing price with eBay?  It’s actually easier than you might think! 

• On the upper right hand corner of the eBay site, next to the eBay “search” button, click on “Advanced Search” 
• Enter a keyword.  What this means is type in the name of the object that you would like to list for a charity auction on eBay.
• Under the heading “Search Including” click on the box next to “Completed Listings.”

Here’s an example, please visite eBay to view completed listings sales prices. (We’re going to be looking at sales info for Christmas ornaments.) Click here: eBay Completed Listings example

Please note, the link will take you to the eBay sign in page. Just log in, and you will then be directed to the Christmas ornaments sales prices page. If you don’t already have an account, please create an account to use this feature.

Questions? Please leave a comment!

Need a School Fundraiser?  Do you want to make money for your school with eBay?  Need ideas for fundraising for your charity organization?  Raising money for your school fundraiser or your favorite charity through eBay auctions is fun and easy!  Here’s how you can make money online for your school fundraiser or to support your charity organization!  

Click here: Register as an eBay buyer or eBay seller with eBay.

1. Anyone can register to sell items with eBay.  An individual or business not related to the school or charity can list goods, and direct the proceeds to the school or charity.  The charity itself can also create listings and sell on eBay.
   
2. Sign up with PayPal.  Register for a personal or merchant PayPal account.  It’s quick and easy – here’s a tip for signing up with PayPal – have your check book handy.  You’ll need your routing number and checking account number.  Why?  That’s where your money will be sent at the close of the auction!  When you register, PayPal will send a small amount of money, less than $1.00, to your checking account.  When you see it come through, in 3 – 5 days, go back to PayPal, sign in, and let them know the amount of money that was transferred!  It’ll be something like seventeen cents, or forty three cents, some small and random number.  That’s it!  Merchants – get ready to make your customers happy!  People love to shop, and they’re used to paying by PayPal!  If you meet your customer expectations, you’ll have satisfied customers!  That’s the secret to repeat business!
   
3. Sign up with MissionFish to designate a portion (or all!) of your eBay auction sales money to charity.
   
4. Select the charity that you would like to donate money to support through your listing with eBay. If your favorite charity is not already signed up with MissionFish, have them follow the links through and sign up.  They’ll need to have their bank account info handy, as the proceeds will be a direct deposit.  I suggest you have the charity go to the link to sign up, and print out the form, and fill it out on paper before giving it a shot on the computer.  The system won’t allow you to save a halfway processed application.  They’ll also need their mission statement and a logo to upload.
   
5. List your item to sell with eBay, designating your favorite charity to benefit from the proceeds.
   
6. When your item sells through eBay, the portion of your sales that you have pre designated will automatically be routed through MissionFish (small processing fee) right to your favorite charity!
   
7. You’ll get the proper tax paperwork automatically for your donation!

You can also support the PTSA with Cow Chip Bingo! Please visit our Cow Chip Bingo website to fundraise for our school! Click Here: Lakeview Junior High School Cow Chip Bingo

Amazon School Fundraiser: School Fund Raise for Lakeview Junior High School, Orcutt CA. Please visit our link to Amazon.com – anything you buy helps support the PTSA! Shopping for the holidays? Amazon Gift Cards are perfect for any occasion!

Raise Money for Lakeview Junior High School, Orcutt, CA. Proceeds of the Lakeview Junior High School Fundraising Page go directly to the Lakeview Junior High School Parent Teacher Student Organization. The Lakeview PTSA supplies money for the school that is used by all students!   

Priceline School Fundraiser: Planning a vacation or business trip? When you buy your airline tickets and make hotel reservations through this Lakeview PTSA Priceline link, your purchases support the Lakeview Junior High School PTSA! You can save money by booking on Priceline, please clear your cookies, bookmark this page and enter Priceline from the link below! Every little bit helps, and your support goes DIRECTLY to the Lakeview PTSA! (100% of all affiliate commissions earned on the Lakeview Page go to Lakeview PTSA!)

Your support directly benefits each student at Lakeview Junior High School.  Thanks for your support!

Gamefly School Fundraiser: Looking for kid friendly game rentals? Gamefly delivers Playstation 3, PS2, PSP, Xbox, XBox 360 Wii, Nintendo GameCube, Nintendo DS, and GameBoy Advance games right to your door! There are no due dates or late fees. There are over 7,000 titles, free shipping, play games as long as your want, pick your games online, return games and get more from your list! Please give Gamefly a try today, you’ll be supporting the Lakeview PTSA when you do!!!

Lakeview Junior High School, Orcutt, California
Lakeview Junior High School
3700 Orcutt Road
Santa Maria, CA 93455

(805) 938-8600 Tel.
(805) 938-8649 Fax.
Jeff Carlovsky, Principal
Ted Lyon, Jr. Vice Principal

Lakeview Junior High School, Orcutt, CA

A California Distinguished School
A National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence
Support Lakeview Junior High School, Orcutt, CA